75 divided by 20 equals 3.75

With twenty days between now and the drive, we have confirmed 35 appointment times.  I love it.  Keep ‘em coming.  Only 75 to go!!  We need to average roughly four appointments a day before Memorial Day to blow this thing out of the water.  Let’s do this!!!

 

CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT!!

A year later….

I can’t believe it has been a year.  Some moments it feels like Bowen’s birth and death happened light years ago.  Other moments the wound is so fresh that I check my wrist for a hospital band.  No matter the volume of that tightening pain in my throat, that sting behind my eyes, I carry that baby boy with me in my heart instead of my arms, every moment of every day.  This year has brought us equal challenges and peace.  And our grief is always changing.

What hasn’t changed is our commitment to the Indiana Blood Center and our desire to perpetuate Bowen’s memory while giving back what we took freely across his twenty five days.  With great excitement and pride, I announce the second annual, large scale Team BoHawk Memorial blood drive.  As I mentioned in previous posts, last year’s first drive, the *big* one, was like a second wedding day for us.  Planning, anticipation, sleepless nights, nervousness, all of which led to a zenith of a day.  We both felt so uplifted and rejuvenated, surrounded by family and loved ones, new and very old friends.  I can’t wait to do it again.

Sign up for one of more than a hundred appointment times here.

The location will be the same but this year we will be in the large social hall in the church’s basement, just in case we have another scorcher of a day.  The social hall is much larger and MUCH cooler.

The Details:
May 29th from 2pm to 7pm

Irvington United Methodist Church

30 N. Audobon

Indianapolis, IN  46219

ONE more time!

Saturday, September 24th marks the final Team BoHawk blood drive of 2011. Burd Ford has so graciously offered their dealership as the location for the event. I can’t wait to see all faces (and your bandaged arms!!) one last time this year. Sign up, spread the word, roll up your sleeve. For Bo.

Click HERE to schedule your appointment time!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out for the Ed Martin drive.  Again, we hit our goals and even had to turn some folks away.  As  with the previous drive, we are truly lifted by everyone’s support.  And a HUGE thank you to the staff at Ed Martin.  We’re overwhelmed.  And we thank you.

The Drive in Pictures

Our incredibly generous friends at Nathaniel Edmunds donated their time, energy, and amazing talents and captured the day in photographs.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, Nate and Tiffany.

Round TWO!!

Exactly 56 days after our innaugural drive, we are hosting our SECOND blood drive in Bowen’s memory. The Ed Martin Automotive Group has so very graciously offered up their Honda/Nissan location for a blood mobile drive. Our goal for this drive is only 35 pints. I’m hoping there’ll be another race for these appointment times! And don’t worry; if all the spots are taken, we will be hosting a third and final drive of the year at Burd Ford in the fall!

Schedule your appointment NOW!!

The Big (BIG) Day

What a marvelous day. We’ve felt so supported and loved throughout this entire journey but yesterday was clearly the pinnacle. I haven’t received that many hugs since our wedding day. We enjoyed reunions with old and wonderful friends and met new ones along the way. Our turnout was inspiring. Well over 130 potential donors checked in and, when all was said and done, we collected 94 pints of blood, 85% of our allotted capacity. I couldn’t be more pleased. And the kind, supportive, and encouraging words FAR exceeded the collection of blood.

Yesterday’s drive beat the standing record for the largest individual drive for the Central Indiana Blood Bank. And the event practically planned itself. I can only imagine the impact we can make next year. I’m so proud to have such a selfless, giving network of friends, family, and neighbors and I know you all have more to share. As I’ve said countless times, I’m not the sort of person who needs answers to tragedies. I’m not particularly interested in the ‘Why’ of these kinds of events. But there are clear and present answers all around us. Community, fellowship, purposefulness, even some dogmatism. And overwhelming, uplifting love and support.

So thank you. All of you. Whether you donated blood in Bowen’s name, gave your time to make the event a success, gave money to the family fund or a charity of your choice, or simply carry Bowen in your heart….. Thank you.